Painted this bright piece to replace one that sold at Elvy’s Cafe in Shorncliffe, Qld.
Call in for a cuppa and delicious cake while viewing the art:
Elvy’s Cafe, 6 Park Parade, Shorncliffe Open from 5.30 am to 2.30 weekdays, 5.30 am to 3 pm weekends.
A still life on an old canvas, created with oil pastel.
1. Over an old painting, I placed tissue paper with Atelier Binder Medium, and painted with red acrylic. When dry, I covered the surface with a layer of Art Spectrum clear pastel primer.
2. I drew in the basic composition with a dark blue oil pastel.
3. This photo shows the basic placement of underpainting colours.
4. The first spray of varnish ha set the oil pastels into the canvas, and changed some if the lighter colours. They will need more layers of the same colour oil pastel, as more colours are also introduced to the work.
5. Ready for a final spray.
6. Although not a good photo, this shows the brilliance that can be achieved with oil pastel on canvas. 61 w by 46 h cms ( 24 by 18 inches).
This work was created using mostly wet pastel on canvas and I showed it and discussed it on the PSA Zoom “Using Pastel on Canvas” last month.
1. Gesso was placed over an old work, and when dry, collages with fabric and white tissue papers.
2. Soft pastel was applied.
3. The pastel layers were wet with water and a brush and allowed to dry.
4. A detail showing how the pastel is drying with sections of pigment clumping in interesting shapes.
5. Another detail showing how the wet pastel is settling into the texture.
6. I placed another layer of dry soft pastel and wet it with water and a brush.
7. A detail showing the subtle layers of colour.
8. Another detail showing how the second layer of pastel dries as a glaze over the first layer of colour.
9. Detail showing how the subsequent wet pastel layer is drying over the sprayed varnish surface.
10. The next wet pastel layer.
11. Adding Art Spectrum Extra Soft Square pastels in yellow, blues and turquoise.
12. Close up detail showing the pastel dry brushed over the texture.
13. Detail photo showing this same area after spraying with varnish.
14. Close up showing the rich depth achieved through sequential pastel and varnish layers.
15. Not a good photo, and I am not sure if I am happy to say this is completed, but as it is now the signed piece. “NZ Scape” 61 w by 31 h cms (24 h by 12 w inches). I’ll keep contemplating it. My students will not be surprised to hear that I think it needs a bird somewhere.
Finally my website is up again – deep gratitude to Russell from Dymond Hosting. I have lost some previous progressions which I will endeavour to rewrite and post. This one is the promised finalized work from the demonstration Using Pastel on Canvas in the PSA Zoom Tuesday 14th last month.
1. The canvas prepared with Soft Umber Art Spectrum pastel primer, and some clear primer that has turquoise acrylic ink in it for colour. Before this primer dried, I ran combs through for texture – a fine tooth comb towards the top, and a more widely toothed comb towards the bottom.
2. Here is the work at the end of the demonstration. I had placed soft pastel and wet some in the background, then proceeded to draw up the chook and flooring of grasses and straw with more soft pastel. This is ready for a spray of varnish.
3. This is the work after another layer of soft pastels, readily apparent in the brighter oranges etc, and waiting for a further spray of varnish.
4. After further applications of soft pastel, especially the AS extra soft squares, which have minimal affect after being wet and don’t like being mixed with water at all, the work is ready for a final spray.
5. The completed signed work – 45 square cms (18 square inches).
What will end up on here tomorrow?
I have collaged tissue papers, snake skin, textured papers and music onto the AS board for the pastel demonstration tomorrow at the Old Fire Station Gallery, 395 Oxley Avenue in Redcliffe – 10.30 to 12.30 – free to the public on the first day of the Master and Accomplished Pastellists Exhibition. Not to be missed, this is a gathering of works from Master pastellists all over Australia and one from New Zealand. 1st through 26th November 2023 – gallery phone (07) 3284 0852 Hours Wed-Sun 10am – 3pm
I was privileged to be asked to officially open “Land”Escapes”, an exhibition of the works of Barbara Vivash and Lee FullARTon, on Saturday (21st Jan).
Thankyou to Sarah O’Neill for the photo! Two artists who present works on their reactions to the areas around the Ross River, from both the lush areas around Townsville through to the drier areas in the Central Desert.
The Exhibition is open through 12th February at the Old Fire Station Gallery in Redcliffe, 395 Oxley Avenue. Hours 10am to 3pm Wednesdays through Sundays.
My address:
I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet, the Gubbi Gubbi and Ningy Ningy people, and pay my respects to the Elders past, present and future. I acknowledge the connection to land, the gift of welcome, and the deep spiritual bond of these First Nations people.
Land’Escapes: Barbara Vivash and Lee Fullarton
The Ross River ribbons from the MacDonnell Ranges though to the Central Desert and also through lush rainforest to the Coral Sea. This river stitches the works of these two artists together – just as the sewn lines run through Lee’s “Lead me to the Cocoons, Moths Coming”.
Barbara has explored the river’s environs towards the tropical North – the catchment of lush growth, flowing water areas and areas of stalled water gathered. Lee has embraced the other desert side of the river – its dry beds, effects of years of water over the terrain and its stark spirituality.
It is refreshing to experience works by these artists who have opened themselves to a fuller expression of how the landscape has impacted them – Barbara works from photos of the areas that speak to her when walking that earth. Lee immerses herself in drawing and painting while on site, pulling those reactions together into major works later on in the studio, as well s leaving some of them as completed works in their own right..
Rather than a mere copying of the face of this land – we see here deeper reflections from artists who have been practicing their craft from before they were schoolgirls. Barbara is unafraid to add texture to her acrylic and watercolour paintings though the use of tissue paper – searching for an immediate visual “touch” of earth. Lee lets the desired message dictate which art medium will be employed in any particular artwork – inks; etching; sewing; fabric; acrylic – etc.
What is obvious from this exhibition is that we are seeing work from artists delving into a truer expression of connection to earth; stimulation from landscape forms; and spiritual meaning in the world’s gift of nature’s elements – rather than a mere reproduction of what may seem visible.
Barbara also presents works from areas outside of the Ross River environs and is exploring using watercolour on canvas – visitors will recognize some New Zealand and some Mt Tambourine views.
Lee has allowed the initial drawings to direct the end result in searching for a visual language emblematic of the story of that particular landscape – forms and shapes glorying in their presentation.
I thank Barbara and Lee for asking me to be here – it has been a privilege – and I formally declare the exhibition to be open – please stay and absorb these works and let them enter your soul.